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Abstract:

A method for driving light adjustments, a device therefor and a light
adjustable lamp thereof are disclosed. The method includes: connecting a
light source driving circuit which supplies a light source and an MCU
with electricity and then the light source driving circuit driving the
light source to vary brightness; after disconnecting the light source
driving circuit, a temporary power supplying circuit continuing to power
the MCU; when the light source is varying brightness and at an instant of
disconnecting the light source driving circuit, the MCU obtaining a
brightness state of the light source and storing information about the
brightness state; after the temporary power supplying circuit is drained,
the information vanishing; if the light source driving circuit is
connected before the vanishing, the light source working constantly
according to the information; and if the light source driving circuit is
connected after the vanishing, the light source varying brightness.

Claims:

1-11. (canceled)

12. A method for driving light adjustments, comprising following steps
of: for a first time connecting a light source driving circuit which
supplies a light source and an MCU with electricity, and thereafter
driving the light source to gradually vary brightness according to a
predefined firmware program by the light source driving circuit which is
controlled by the MCU; after the light source driving circuit is
disconnected, a temporary power supplying circuit continuing to supplying
the MCU with electricity; when the light source is at a state of
gradually varying the brightness and at an instant of disconnecting the
light source driving circuit, the MCU obtaining a temporary brightness
state of the light source at the instant of disconnecting the light
source driving circuit and then temporarily storing information about the
brightness state; after the temporary power supplying circuit is drained,
the stored information about the brightness state vanishing; connecting
the light source driving circuit when the information about the
brightness state remains, and then driving the light source to work
according to the information about the constant brightness state by the
light source driving circuit which is controlled by the MCU; and
connecting the light source driving circuit after the information about
the brightness state vanishes, and then driving the light source to
gradually vary the brightness according to the predefined firmware
program by the light source driving circuit which is controlled by the
MCU.

13. The method, as recited in claim 12, wherein the light source driving
circuit comprises energy storing elements which continue to supply the
light source with electricity after the light source driving circuit
stops supplying the light source with electricity.

14. The method, as recited in claim 12, further comprising following step
of: when the light source is working at the constant brightness state and
when the information about the brightness state remains, disconnecting
the light source driving circuit and then the MCU eliminating the stored
information about the brightness state.

15. The method, as recited in claim 13, further comprising following step
of: when the light source is working at the constant brightness state and
when the information about the brightness state remains, disconnecting
the light source driving circuit and then the MCU eliminating the stored
information about the brightness state.

16. The method, as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of "when the
light source is at a state of gradually varying the brightness and at an
instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit, the MCU
obtaining a temporary brightness state of the light source at the instant
of disconnecting the light source driving circuit and then temporarily
storing information about the brightness state" specifically comprises:
when the light source is at the state of gradually varying the brightness
and at the instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit, the
MCU obtaining a period of the light source driving circuit from
connecting to disconnecting, then searching out the brightness state of
the light source correspondent to the period in the predefined firmware
program and temporarily storing the information about the brightness
state.

17. The method, as recited in claim 13, wherein the step of "when the
light source is at a state of gradually varying the brightness and at an
instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit, the MCU
obtaining a temporary brightness state of the light source at the instant
of disconnecting the light source driving circuit and then temporarily
storing information about the brightness state" specifically comprises:
when the light source is at the state of gradually varying the brightness
and at the instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit, the
MCU obtaining a period of the light source driving circuit from
connecting to disconnecting, then searching out the brightness state of
the light source correspondent to the period in the predefined firmware
program and temporarily storing the information about the brightness
state.

18. The method, as recited in claim 14, wherein the step of "when the
light source is at a state of gradually varying the brightness and at an
instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit, the MCU
obtaining a temporary brightness state of the light source at the instant
of disconnecting the light source driving circuit and then temporarily
storing information about the brightness state" specifically comprises:
when the light source is at the state of gradually varying the brightness
and at the instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit, the
MCU obtaining a period of the light source driving circuit from
connecting to disconnecting, then searching out the brightness state of
the light source correspondent to the period in the predefined firmware
program and temporarily storing the information about the brightness
state.

19. The method, as recited in claim 15, wherein the step of "when the
light source is at a state of gradually varying the brightness and at an
instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit, the MCU
obtaining a temporary brightness state of the light source at the instant
of disconnecting the light source driving circuit and then temporarily
storing information about the brightness state" specifically comprises:
when the light source is at the state of gradually varying the brightness
and at the instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit, the
MCU obtaining a period of the light source driving circuit from
connecting to disconnecting, then searching out the brightness state of
the light source correspondent to the period in the predefined firmware
program and temporarily storing the information about the brightness
state.

20. The method, as recited in claim 13, wherein the step of "when the
light source is at a state of gradually varying the brightness and at an
instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit, the MCU
obtaining a temporary brightness state of the light source at the instant
of disconnecting the light source driving circuit and then temporarily
storing information about the brightness state" specifically comprises:
when the light source is at the state of gradually varying the brightness
and at the instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit, the
MCU obtaining at least one of a current value and a voltage value of the
working light source when the light source driving circuit is
disconnected and then temporarily storing the obtained value or the
obtained values.

21. The method, as recited in claim 14, wherein the step of "when the
light source is at a state of gradually varying the brightness and at an
instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit, the MCU
obtaining a temporary brightness state of the light source at the instant
of disconnecting the light source driving circuit and then temporarily
storing information about the brightness state" specifically comprises:
when the light source is at the state of gradually varying the brightness
and at the instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit, the
MCU obtaining at least one of a current value and a voltage value of the
working light source when the light source driving circuit is
disconnected and then temporarily storing the obtained value or the
obtained values.

22. The method, as recited in claim 15, wherein the step of "when the
light source is at a state of gradually varying the brightness and at an
instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit, the MCU
obtaining a temporary brightness state of the light source at the instant
of disconnecting the light source driving circuit and then temporarily
storing information about the brightness state" specifically comprises:
when the light source is at the state of gradually varying the brightness
and at the instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit, the
MCU obtaining at least one of a current value and a voltage value of the
working light source when the light source driving circuit is
disconnected and then temporarily storing the obtained value or the
obtained values.

23. A device for driving light adjustments, comprising a light source
driving circuit, and further comprising an MCU and a temporary power
supplying circuit, wherein said temporary power supplying circuit is for
supplying said MCU with electricity after said light source driving
circuit stops supplying said light source with electricity; and said MCU
comprises a current detecting module, an analyzing and processing module
and a storage module, wherein said current detecting module is for
obtaining a connecting signal or a disconnecting signal of said light
source driving circuit and sending said obtained signal into said
analyzing and processing module; said storage module is for storing a
firmware program of gradually varying brightness of said light source and
information about constant brightness state of said light source; said
analyzing and processing module obtains said connecting signal or said
disconnecting signal of said light source driving circuit and said
firmware program of gradually varying said brightness of said light
source or said information about said constant brightness state of said
light source which is stored in said storage module for analyzing and
processing, then generates a signal for adjusting said brightness of said
light source and sends said signal into said light source driving
circuit; and said light source driving circuit adjusts said brightness of
said light source according to said controlling signal, specifically
comprising that: after said light source driving circuit is connected for
a first time, said analyzing and processing module generates a signal for
controlling said light source driving circuit which drives said light
source to gradually vary said brightness according to said predefined
firmware program; when said light source is at a state of gradually vary
said brightness and after said light source driving circuit is
disconnected, said analyzing and processing module obtains said constant
brightness state at an instant of disconnecting said light source driving
circuit and temporarily stores said information about said constant
brightness state in said storage module; when said information about said
brightness state remains, said light source driving circuit is connected
again after the first time and said analyzing and processing module
generates said signal for controlling said light source driving circuit
which drives said light source to work according to said information
about said constant brightness state; and after said information about
said brightness state vanishes, said light source driving circuit is
connected again after the first time and said analyzing and processing
module generates said signal for controlling said light source driving
circuit which drives said light source to gradually vary said brightness
according to said predefined firmware program.

24. The device, as recited in claim 23, wherein said light source driving
circuit comprises energy storing elements which continue to supply said
light source with electricity after said light source driving circuit
stops supplying said light source with electricity.

25. The device, as recited in claim 24, wherein said analyzing and
processing module is also for eliminating said stored information about
said constant brightness state after said light source driving circuit is
disconnected, when said light source is working at said constant
brightness state and when said information about said constant brightness
state remains.

26. The device, as recited in claim 23, wherein said MCU further
comprises a timing module for obtaining a period of said light source
driving circuit from connecting to disconnecting when said light source
is in said state of gradually varying said brightness and at the instant
of disconnecting said light source driving circuit; and said analyzing
and processing module searches out said constant brightness state of said
light source which corresponds to said period in said predefined firmware
program and temporarily stores said information about said brightness
state in said storage module.

27. The device, as recited in claim 24, wherein said MCU further
comprises a timing module for obtaining a period of said light source
driving circuit from connecting to disconnecting when said light source
is in said state of gradually varying said brightness and at the instant
of disconnecting said light source driving circuit; and said analyzing
and processing module searches out said constant brightness state of said
light source which corresponds to said period in said predefined firmware
program and temporarily stores said information about said brightness
state in said storage module.

28. The device, as recited in claim 25, wherein said MCU further
comprises a timing module for obtaining a period of said light source
driving circuit from connecting to disconnecting when said light source
is in said state of gradually varying said brightness and at the instant
of disconnecting said light source driving circuit; and said analyzing
and processing module searches out said constant brightness state of said
light source which corresponds to said period in said predefined firmware
program and temporarily stores said information about said brightness
state in said storage module.

29. The device, as recited in claim 24, wherein said MCU further
comprises a signal sampling module for obtaining at least one of a
current value and a voltage value of said working light source when said
light source is at said state of gradually varying said brightness and at
the instant of disconnecting said light source driving circuit and then
sending said obtained value or said obtained values into said analyzing
and processing module, wherein said analyzing and processing module
stores said current value and said voltage value in said storage module.

30. The device, as recited in claim 25, wherein said MCU further
comprises a signal sampling module for obtaining at least one of a
current value and a voltage value of said working light source when said
light source is at said state of gradually varying said brightness and at
the instant of disconnecting said light source driving circuit and then
sending said obtained value or said obtained values into said analyzing
and processing module, wherein said analyzing and processing module
stores said current value and said voltage value in said storage module.

31. A light adjustable lamp, comprising a light source and the device as
recited in claim 23 connected to said light source.

Description:

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This is a U.S. National Stage under 35 U.S.C 371 of the
International Application PCT/CN2011/071040, filed Feb. 16, 2011, which
claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(a-d) to CN 201010176821.2, filed May
20, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a field of lighting lamp control
technology, and more particularly to a method for driving light
adjustments, a device therefor and a light adjustable lamp comprising the
device, wherein the device and an on-off switch together control and
adjust brightness of a light source.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Arts

[0005] Under an increasing shortage of energy resources, the energy saving
of the lamps are becoming more and more important. Conventionally, the
energy saving of lighting lamps mainly aims at replacing conventional
incandescent lamps with energy-saving lamps, such as the fluorescent
lamps and the LED, and pays little attention to the light adjustment
technology which effectively saves energy by duly adjusting brightness of
the lamps. On one hand, researches about the light adjustment technology
are few; on the other hand, consumers have the demand of light adjustment
technology, but have no technical supports. When purchasing the lighting
lamps, the consumers are always bothered about choosing what power of the
lamps to satisfy lighting demand; and after the lamps with certain power
are purchased, a dilemma that most of such high power is unnecessary
often occurs. Moreover, the conventional home lighting lamps only have
switching functions without light adjustments and thus the lamps have to
be switched on even if only dim light is demanded, which results in a
great waste. Existing bedside lamps at some hotels have functions of
adjusting brightness, but the brightness adjustments are accomplished via
knobs, which is basically impossible for home lighting because most
existing home walls are installed with on-off switches, instead of the
knobs, to switch off the lamps. Further, if the knobs are used for the
light adjustments, the common on-off switches are required to be replaced
with the knobs, which adds many engineering costs; because of potential
danger of electric shock during replacing the switches, professional
electricians are needed to do the replacing, which undoubtedly further
adds labor cost of the replacing; and the on-off switches are abandoned
while the knobs are used, which further increases product costs of the
knobs. As a result, such a light adjustment technology is hardly widely
applied on market unless for the lighting construction to-be-started.
Some relatively advanced remote control light adjustment technologies
also appear on market. The remote control light adjustment technologies
require no extra construction and no labor costs of replacing, but it is
difficult to keep remote controllers and turning on the lamps often fails
because of the drained remote controllers.

[0006] The field of commercial lighting has the demand not only for the
brightness adjustments, but also for color adjustments. Similarly, the
color adjustments also require providing additional controlling devices
rather than the on-off switches, which adds the costs of the light
adjustment. Certainly, the home lighting also has potential demand of the
color adjustments, but no conventional color adjustment technology via
the on-off switches ever appears.

[0007] A Chinese patent having an application number of 200810135921.3,
searched out by the inventor, discloses a device for driving light
adjustments and a method therefor. The device cooperates with an LED
driver and changes brightness via calculating a frequency of a switch
switching between ON and OFF, so as to enable the LED driver to adjust
light. The device is only able to discretely adjust the brightness
because of calculating the frequency of the switch switching between ON
and OFF to change the brightness. The brightness can be divided into
several grades and each grade of brightness corresponds to a certain
frequency of the switch switching between ON and OFF by the switch. The
device is unable to linearly and freely adjust the brightness. Meanwhile,
the brightness adjustment requires frequently switching between ON and
OFF, leading to frequent lightening and extinguishing of LED lamps, which
is cumbersome and uncomfortable for human eyes and, more importantly,
reduces service lives of the lamps.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0008] An object of the present invention is to solve above technical
problems and provide a method for driving light adjustments, a device
therefor and a light adjustable lamp, wherein the device cooperates with
an on-off switch to linearly and freely adjust brightness of a light
source correspondent to on and off signal of the on-off switch by
collecting the on and off signal. The present invention has a simple
controlling manner and low upgrading costs; and during adjusting the
light, the light is kept from being extinguished, so as to bring
convenience to the light adjustments without reducing a service life of
the light source.

[0009] The light source of the present invention comprises lamps whose
light sources are driven to work via electronic drivers or electronic
ballasts, such as fluorescent lamps and LED lamps.

[0012] for a first time connecting a light source driving circuit which
supplies a light source and an MCU with electricity and thereafter
driving the light source to gradually vary brightness according to a
predefined firmware program by the light source driving circuit which is
controlled by the MCU;

[0013] disconnecting the light source driving circuit and then a temporary
power supplying circuit continuing to supply the MCU with electricity;

[0014] when the light source is in a state of gradually varying the
brightness and at an instant of disconnecting the light source driving
circuit, the MCU obtaining a temporary brightness state of the light
source at the instant and the MCU temporarily storing information about
the brightness state which is constant;

[0015] after the temporary power supplying circuit is drained, the stored
information about the brightness state vanishing;

[0016] connecting the light source driving circuit when the stored
information about the brightness state remains and then driving the light
source to work constantly according to the information about the
brightness state by the light source driving circuit which is controlled
by the MCU; and

[0017] connecting the light source driving circuit after the stored
information about the brightness state vanishes and then driving the
light source to gradually vary the brightness according to the predefined
firmware program by the light source driving circuit which is controlled
by the MCU.

[0019] The energy storing elements comprise one kind or more than one kind
of capacitors, inductors and cells.

[0020] The method further comprises following steps of:

[0021] when the light source is working at the constant brightness state
and the information about the constant brightness state remains,
disconnecting the light source driving circuit and the MCU eliminating
the stored information about the constant brightness state.

[0022] The step of "when the light source is in a state of gradually
varying the brightness and at an instant of disconnecting the light
source driving circuit, the MCU obtaining a temporary brightness state of
the light source at the instant and the MCU temporarily storing
information about the brightness state which is constant" specifically
comprises following steps of:

[0023] when the light source is at the state of gradually varying the
brightness and at the instant of disconnecting the light source driving
circuit, the MCU obtaining a period of the light source driving circuit
from connecting to disconnecting, then searching out the constant
brightness state of the light source corresponding to the period in the
predefined firmware program and temporarily storing the information about
the constant brightness state.

[0024] The step of "when the light source is in a state of gradually
varying the brightness and at an instant of disconnecting the light
source driving circuit, the MCU obtaining a temporary brightness state of
the light source at the instant and the MCU temporarily storing
information about the brightness state which is constant specifically
comprises following steps of:

[0025] when the light source is at the state of gradually varying the
brightness and at the instant of disconnecting the light source driving
circuit, the MCU obtaining at least one of a current value and a voltage
value of an output terminal of the light source driving circuit at the
instant and then temporarily storing the obtained value or the obtained
values.

[0026] The present invention further provides a device for driving light
adjustments comprising a light source driving circuit. The device further
comprises an MCU and a temporary power supplying circuit. The temporary
power supplying circuit is for supplying the MCU with electricity after
the light source driving circuit stops supplying electricity. The MCU
comprises a current detecting module, an analyzing and processing module
and a storage module. The current detecting module is for obtaining
connecting signal or disconnecting signal of the light source driving
circuit and sending the obtained signal into the analyzing and processing
module. The storage module is for storing a firmware program of gradually
varying brightness of a light source and information about a constant
brightness state of the light source. After the temporary power supplying
circuit stops supplying electricity, the stored information about the
constant brightness state vanishes; then the analyzing and processing
module obtains the connecting signal or the disconnecting signal of the
light source driving circuit and the firmware program of gradually
varying the brightness of the light source or the information about the
constant brightness state stored in the storage module for analyzing and
processing, generates signal for adjusting the brightness of the light
source and sends the signal into the light source driving circuit; and
then the light source driving circuit adjusts the brightness of the light
source according to the controlling signal, specifically as follows:

[0027] for a first time connecting the light source driving circuit and
thereafter the analyzing and processing module generating a signal for
controlling the light source driving circuit which drives the light
source to gradually vary the brightness of the light source according to
the predefined firmware program;

[0028] when the light source is at a state of gradually varying the
brightness and after the light source driving circuit is disconnected,
the analyzing and processing module obtaining the constant brightness
state at an instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit and
then temporarily storing information about the constant brightness state;

[0029] connecting the light source driving circuit when the information
about the constant brightness state remains and the analyzing and
processing module generating a signal for controlling the light source
driving circuit which drives the light source to work according to the
information about the constant brightness state; and

[0030] connecting the light source driving circuit after the information
about the constant brightness state vanishes and the analyzing and
processing module generating the signal for controlling the light source
driving circuit which drives the light source to gradually vary the
brightness according to the firmware program.

[0032] The analyzing and processing module is further for eliminating the
stored information about the constant brightness state after the light
source driving circuit is disconnected, when the light source is working
at the constant brightness state and the information about the constant
brightness state remains.

[0033] The MCU further comprises a timing module for obtaining the period
of the light source driving circuit from connecting to disconnecting when
the light source is at the state of gradually varying the brightness and
at the instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit; and
thereby the analyzing and processing module searches out the constant
brightness state of the light source correspondent to the period in the
predefined firmware program and then stores the information about the
constant brightness state in the storage module.

[0034] The MCU further comprises a signal sampling module for obtaining at
least one of the current value and the voltage value of the output
terminal of the light source driving circuit when the light source is at
the state of gradually varying the brightness and at the instant of
disconnecting the light source driving circuit and then sending the
obtained value or the obtained values into the analyzing and processing
module; and thereby the analyzing and processing module stores the
current value or the voltage value in the storage module.

[0035] The present invention also provides a light adjustable lamp
comprising a light source and a device for driving light adjustments
connected to the light source, wherein the device is as mentioned above.

[0036] The energy storing elements comprise one kind or more than one kind
of capacitors and inductors.

[0037] The present invention has following beneficial technical effects.

[0038] The MCU of the present invention generates the signal for
controlling the brightness of the light source by obtaining on and off
signal of the switch which is connected to the light source driving
circuit, i.e., by obtaining the connecting signal and the disconnecting
signal of the light source driving circuit, and then outputs the signal
for controlling the brightness of light source into the light source
driving circuit, which is an ingenious manner and has a simple structure
without being provided with unnecessary knobs or remote controllers for
the light adjustments, so as to greatly reduce the upgrading costs of
conventional lighting lamps; and meanwhile the conventional lamps can be
upgraded by only replacing the lamps because the switches are used, so as
to greatly save engineering costs.

[0039] After the switch is turned off, the energy storing elements in the
light source driving circuit continue to supply the light source with
electricity, so that the light source is prevented from being
extinguished after the switch is turned off and maintains constant
brightness within the switch acting time, so as to ensure a continuity of
electricity supply and bring convenience to adjusting light.

[0040] A continuous linear light adjustment can be accomplished by
choosing only once, either by choosing a desired brightness instead of
frequently switching between ON and OFF to simplify controlling, or by
freely controlling the brightness of the light source. The continuous
linear light adjustment is more advanced compared to conventional arts.

[0041] These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed description,
the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for driving light adjustments
according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0043]FIG. 2 is a curve diagram of brightness changes of a light source
according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the method according to a second
preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0045]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a light adjustable lamp according to a
third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the light adjustable lamp according to
a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0047] The present invention provides a method for driving light
adjustments, a device therefor and a light adjustable lamp comprising the
device. The device cooperates with an on-off switch and collects on and
off signal of the switch to linearly and freely adjust brightness of a
light source correspondent to the on and off signal. The present
invention has a simple controlling manner and low costs and prevents
lights from being extinguished during the light adjustments to bring
convenience to the light adjustments without reducing a service life of
the light source.

[0048] Combined with preferred embodiments and drawings, the present
invention is further illustrated and described as follows.

First Preferred Embodiment

[0049] Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, according to the first
preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for driving light
adjustments which controls brightness of a light source based on signal
for controlling the brightness of the light source which is sent into a
light source driving circuit via an MCU specifically comprises following
steps of:

[0050] 101: for a first time connecting the light source driving circuit
and then driving the light source to gradually vary the brightness by the
light source driving circuit which is controlled by the MCU, specifically
comprising following steps of: firming a program in the MCU, wherein the
program corresponds to the controlling signal which drives the light
source to work at a gradually varying state firstly from bright to dark
and then from dark back to bright; connecting the light source driving
circuit by turning on a switch of the light source driving circuit for a
first time and then the light source driving circuit starting to supply
the MCU and the light source with electricity; after the light source
driving circuit is connected, the MCU starting to work and meanwhile the
light source lightening; then driving the light source to work at a state
varying from bright to dark and then from dark back to bright by the
light source driving circuit which is controlled by the MCU, wherein FIG.
2 shows the varying order; before the switch is turned off, the light
source keeping varying the brightness by repeating the varying order; and
when the switch of the light source driving circuit is turned off, the
light source stopping varying, wherein the controlling signal is PWM
controlling signal;

[0051] 102: at an instant of disconnecting the light source driving
circuit, the MCU obtaining a temporary brightness state of the light
source at the instant and then temporarily storing information about the
brightness state which is constant, specifically comprising following
steps of: when the light source is working at the state of step 101,
turning off the switch so that the light source driving circuit is
disconnected and stops supplying the MCU with electricity, but then a
temporary power supplying circuit continuing to supply the MCU with
electricity so that the MCU continues being driven to work; the MCU
obtaining a connecting signal or a disconnecting signal of the light
source driving circuit by detecting a current signal of the light source
driving circuit; when the MCU detects that the light source driving
circuit is disconnected, the MCU obtaining an operating period of the
light source driving circuit from connecting to disconnecting, according
to the operating period searching out the brightness state of the light
source at the instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit
in the firmware program and storing the information about the brightness
state, wherein a time of supplying the MCU with electricity by the
temporary power supplying circuit depends on a discharging time of energy
storing elements of the temporary power supplying circuit and the energy
storing elements can be inductors, capacitors or cells; and when the
light source driving circuit is disconnected continuously and after the
temporary power supplying circuit is drained, the stored information
about the brightness state vanishing;

[0052] 103: when the brightness state remains, again connecting the light
source driving circuit and driving the light source to work at the
constant brightness state of step 102 by the light source driving circuit
which is controlled by the MCU, specifically comprising following steps
of: before the temporary power supplying circuit is drained, i.e., when
the temporary power supplying circuit is driving the MCU to work, turning
on the switch so that the light source driving circuit is connected to
supply the MCU and the light source with electricity again, and thus the
light source lightening again and the MCU continuing working to detect
that the light source driving circuit is connected; and in a situation
that the firmware program and the information about the brightness state
simultaneously exist, the MCU preferably extracting the stored brightness
state for analyzing and driving the light source to work at the
brightness state by the light source driving circuit which is controlled
by the MCU;

[0053] wherein the light source driving circuit is connected after the
temporary power supplying circuit is drained; when the temporary power
supplying circuit is drained, the stored information about the brightness
state vanishes and thus even if the light source driving circuit is
connected again, the MCU only extracts the firmware program and then the
light source driving circuit is controlled by the MCU to drive the light
source to vary the brightness at the varying order as mentioned in step
101; and

[0054] wherein within a certain period the temporary power supplying
circuit runs out of electricity and then the information about the
brightness state which is stored by the MCU vanishes; when the temporary
power supplying circuit is drained, turning on the switch again results
in that the light source varies the brightness at the varying order as
the switch is turned on for the first time, i.e., at the varying order as
mentioned in step 101; and thus the connecting for the first time means
connecting the light source driving circuit after the temporary power
supplying circuit is drained, wherein it takes 2 s-10 s for the temporary
power supplying circuit to run out of electricity; and

[0055] 104: disconnecting the light source driving circuit when the light
source is working at the constant brightness state, thereafter waiting
for the temporary power supplying circuit to be drained, connecting the
light source driving circuit after the temporary power supplying circuit
is drained and then driving the light source to gradually vary the
brightness by the light source driving circuit which is controlled by the
MCU, wherein, after being disconnected, the light source driving circuit
is connected before the temporary power supplying circuit is drained,
which means the stored brightness state still exists and thus the light
source driving circuit is controlled by the MCU to drive the light source
to work at the constant brightness state.

Second Preferred Embodiment

[0056] According to the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention, it is necessary for the light source not to vary at the
varying order as mentioned in step 101 until the temporary power
supplying circuit is drained and the switch is turned on, i.e., the light
source driving circuit is connected. However, the light source begins to
gradually vary the brightness after the switch is turned on for the first
time; users usually miss desired brightness state when the users are
choosing and then the users have to choose again; if the users are
choosing again, the users have to wait for the temporary power supplying
circuit to run out of electricity; and further if it takes a long time
for the temporary power supplying circuit to discharge, the users are
kept waiting too long, which brings great inconvenience to the light
adjustments. Based on the first preferred embodiment, as showed in FIG.
3, the method according to the second preferred embodiment further
comprises following steps of:

[0057] 105: when the light source is working at the brightness state and
when the information about the brightness state remains, disconnecting
the light source driving circuit and the MCU eliminating the stored
information about the brightness state, specifically comprising following
steps of: after step 103, the light source working at the constant
brightness state and meanwhile the MCU still having the information about
the brightness state stored therein; turning off the switch so that the
light source driving circuit stops supplying the MCU with electricity
while the temporary power supplying circuit continues to supply the MCU
with electricity; and the MCU continuing working and when the MCU detects
that the light source driving circuit is disconnected, the MCU
eliminating the stored information about the brightness state of the
working light source without waiting for the temporary power supplying
circuit to be drained; and

[0058] 106: connecting the light source driving circuit after the MCU
eliminates the stored information about the brightness state and then
driving the light source to gradually vary the brightness by the light
source driving circuit which is controlled by the MCU, specifically
comprising following steps of: after step 104, the MCU having already
eliminated the stored information about the brightness state; turning on
the switch no matter whether the temporary power supplying circuit is
drained or not so that the light source driving circuit supplies the MCU
and the light source with electricity again; and because of the vanishing
of the information about the brightness state stored in the MCU, the MCU
extracting only the stored firmware program and converting the firmware
program into a signal for controlling the light source driving circuit
which drives the light source to vary at the varying order as mentioned
in step 101.

[0059] The above design has an advantage that, if the users miss the
desired brightness when choosing, the users can switch off and readily
switch on to choose again without waiting, which improves convenience of
the light adjustments.

[0060] Following are some necessary illustration.

[0061] In the first preferred embodiment and the second preferred
embodiment of the present invention, the light source driving circuit
supplies the MCU and the light source with electricity. After the switch
is turned off, the light source driving circuit is switched off and stops
supplying the light source with electricity; and further, each light
adjustment requires turning off the switch, so as to further stop the
light source from being supplied with electricity. If each light
adjustment has to extinguish the light source, the light adjustment
becomes a bother in users' work and life; and along with frequently
switching on and off, it is certain that a service life of the light
source is greatly shortened. Thus it is necessary to provide the energy
storing elements for temporarily supplying the light source with
electricity after turning off the switch, which specifically comprises
that the light source driving circuit comprises the energy storing
elements and the energy storing elements continue to supply the light
source with electricity after the light source driving circuit stops
supplying the light source with electricity. The energy storing elements
independently supply the light source with electricity after the switch
is turned off and then the light source driving circuit recharges the
energy storing elements after the switch is turned on; and thus the
energy storing elements are preferred to be the capacitors or the
inductors. Because the energy storing elements are designed to supply the
light source with electricity, the light source maintains identical
brightness even at the instant of turning off the switch; in other words,
the light source has a current value and a voltage value unchanged. The
energy storing elements are provided at an output terminal of the light
source driving circuit. Thus when the light source is in the state of
gradually varying the brightness and at the instant of disconnecting the
light source driving circuit, the MCU obtains at least one of the current
value and the voltage value of the output terminal of the light source
driving circuit at the instant, wherein the current value and the voltage
value correspond to the brightness state of the light source when the
light source driving circuit is disconnected; and the MCU temporarily
stores the current value and the voltage value, which equals storing the
information about the brightness state of the light source when the light
source driving circuit is disconnected.

Third Preferred Embodiment

[0062] As showed in FIG. 4, according to the third preferred embodiment of
the present invention, a light adjustable lamp comprises a device for
driving light adjustments 1 and a light source 2 connected to the device,
wherein a switch 3 controls the device. In practical application, the
light adjustable lamp is provided on a seat which is provided on walls or
on ceilings and thus the light adjustable lamp is hardly accessible to
the users; however, the switch is provided on the walls and accessible to
the users. The device 1 comprises a light source driving circuit 11, an
MCU 12 and a temporary power supplying circuit 13. The light source
driving circuit 11 is for supplying the MCU 12 and the light source 2
with electricity. The temporary power supplying circuit 13 is for
continuing to supply the MCU 12 with electricity after the light source
driving circuit 11 stops supplying the MCU 12 with electricity. The light
source driving circuit 11 is also for charging the temporary power
supplying circuit 13. The light source driving circuit 11 further
comprises energy storing elements 111 for continuing to supply the light
source 2 with electricity after the switch 3 which is connected to the
light source driving circuit 11 is turned off. The MCU 12 comprises a
current detecting module 121, an analyzing and processing module 122 and
a storage module 123. The current detecting module 121 is for obtaining
connecting signal and disconnecting signal of the light source driving
circuit 11 and then sending the obtained signal into the analyzing and
processing module 122. The storage module 123 is for storing a firmware
program of gradually varying brightness of the light source and
information about a constant brightness state of the light source. The
analyzing and processing module 122 obtains the connecting signal or the
disconnecting signal of the light source driving circuit 11 and the
firmware program of gradually varying the brightness of the light source
or the information of the constant brightness state of the light source
which is stored in the storage module 123 for analyzing and processing,
generates signal for adjusting the brightness of the light source and
sends the signal into the light source driving circuit 11. Then the light
source driving circuit 11 adjusts the brightness of the light source 2
according to the controlling signal.

[0063] When the light source driving circuit is connected for a first
time, the current detecting module 121 obtains the connecting signal of
the light source driving circuit 11 and sends the connecting signal into
the analyzing and processing module 122; the analyzing and processing
module 122 obtains the connecting signal and extracts the firmware
program of gradually varying the brightness of the light source from the
storage module 123 for analyzing and processing, wherein an order of
varying the brightness is showed in FIG. 2, and generates the controlling
signal for controlling the light source driving circuit 11 which drives
the light source 2 to gradually vary the brightness according to the
predefined firmware program.

[0064] The MCU 12 further comprises a timing module 124 for obtaining a
period of the light source driving circuit 11 from connecting to
disconnecting when the light source 2 is in a state of gradually varying
the brightness and at an instant of disconnecting the light source
driving circuit 11. The analyzing and processing module 122 searches the
constant brightness state of the light source correspondent to the period
out in the predefined program and temporarily stores the information
about the constant brightness state. The timing module 124 starts
clocking after the light source driving circuit 11 is connected for the
first time and stops clocking when the light source driving circuit 11 is
disconnected. When the light source driving circuit 11 is connected for
the first time, the analyzing and processing module 122 obtains the
connecting signal and sends a clocking instruction into the timing module
124. At the instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit 11,
the current detecting module 121 sends a signal of disconnecting the
light source driving circuit 11 into the analyzing and processing module
122. The analyzing and processing module 122 obtains the disconnecting
signal and sends an instruction of stopping clocking into the timing
module 124. The timing module 124 calculates period information from
connecting to disconnecting and sends the period information into the
analyzing and processing module 122. The analyzing and processing module
obtains the period information, searches out the constant brightness
state of the light source which corresponds to the period via a
combination with the firmware program stored in the storage module 123
and stores the information about the constant brightness state in the
storage module 123.

[0065] After the light source driving circuit 11 is disconnected, the
temporary power supplying circuit 13 continues to supplying the MCU 12
with electricity, which means that the temporary power supplying circuit
is discharging; and after the temporary power supplying circuit is
drained, the information about the constant brightness state stored in
the storage module 123 vanishes.

[0066] When the switch 3 is turned on again in a short time after turning
on the switch 3 for the first time and before the temporary power
supplying circuit 13 is drained, the information about the constant
brightness state stored in the storage module 123 still exists; the
current detecting module 121 obtains the connecting signal of the light
source driving circuit 11 and sends the connecting signal into the
analyzing and processing module 122; and when the storage module 123
simultaneously have the firmware program and the information about the
constant brightness state stored therein, the analyzing and processing
module 122 preferably extracts the brightness state from the storage
module 123 for analyzing and processing, and thereafter generates the
signal for controlling the light source driving circuit which drives the
light source to work at the constant brightness state.

[0067] When the switch 3 maintains open for some time after the switch 3
is turned on for the first time and after the temporary power supplying
circuit 13 is drained, the information about the constant brightness
state stored in the storage module 123 vanishes; the current detecting
module 121 obtains the connecting signal of the light source driving
circuit 11 and sends the connecting signal into the analyzing and
processing module 122; and in a situation that the storage module 123
only have the firmware program stored therein, the analyzing and
processing module 122 extracts the firmware program for analyzing and
processing, and thereafter generates the signal for controlling the light
source driving circuit 11 which drives the light source to gradually vary
the brightness according to the predefined firmware program.

[0068] When the light source is working at the constant brightness state
and when the information about the constant brightness state remains, the
lights source driving circuit is disconnected; then the analyzing and
processing module 122 obtains the disconnecting signal of the light
source driving circuit 11 which is sent by the current detecting module
121 and eliminates the information about the constant brightness state
stored in the storage module 123, wherein such a design has the advantage
as illustrated in the second preferred embodiment without repeating
herein.

[0069] A first process of choosing the brightness of the light source is
accomplished from turning on the switch for the first time through
turning off the switch to turning on the switch again. From turning off
the switch again, the chosen brightness of the light source is cancelled.
After the temporary power supplying circuit is drained, turning on the
switch for a third time initiates a second process of choosing the
brightness of the light source.

Fourth Preferred Embodiment

[0070] According to the third preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the MCU is provided with the timing module 124 for obtaining a
period of the light source driving circuit 11 from connecting to
disconnecting when the light source 2 is in a state of gradually varying
the brightness and at an instant of disconnecting the light source
driving circuit 11. The analyzing and processing module 122 searches the
constant brightness state of the light source correspondent to the period
out in the predefined program and temporarily stores the information
about the constant brightness state. Different from the third preferred
embodiment, according to the fourth preferred embodiment, the MCU is
provided with a signal sampling module 125 for obtaining at least one of
a current value and a voltage value of the working light source 2 when
the light source 2 is at the state of gradually varying the brightness
and at the instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit 11
and sending the obtained value or values into the analyzing and
processing module 122 which stores the value or values in the storage
module 123. The light source driving circuit 11 is provided with the
energy storing elements 111. The energy storing elements 111 supply the
light source with unchanged current and voltage at the instant of
disconnecting the light source driving circuit 11; and meanwhile the
current detecting module 121 sends the disconnecting signal of the light
source driving circuit 11 into the analyzing and processing module 122.
After obtaining the disconnecting signal of the light source driving
circuit, the analyzing and processing module 122 readily sends the signal
sampling module 125 the current value or the voltage value which is sent
into the light source 2 by an output terminal of the light source driving
circuit 11, wherein the current value and the voltage value at this
moment correspond to the brightness state of the light source at this
moment; and then the signal sampling module 125 obtains the current value
or the voltage value of the light source 2 and sends the obtained current
value or the obtained voltage value into the analyzing and processing
module which stores the current value or the voltage value in the storage
module. When the light source driving circuit is connected again, the
analyzing and processing module extracts the current value or the voltage
value for analyzing and processing and then generates the signal for
controlling the light source driving circuit which drives the light
source to work according to the current value or the voltage value.

[0071] According to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the current detecting module 121 detects current signal of an
input terminal of the light source driving circuit 11; and different from
the current detecting module 121, the signal sampling module 125 collects
the current value and the voltage value of the output terminal of the
light source driving circuit 11. Moreover, if the output terminal of the
light source driving circuit 11 is provided with no energy storing
elements 111, the light source driving circuit supplies the light source
with no current and no voltage after being disconnected and further the
signal sampling module is unable to collect the current value or the
voltage value of the working light source at the instant of disconnecting
the light source driving circuit 11.

[0072] Meanwhile it is necessary to mention that the MCU needs to be
supplied with stable current and stable voltage by the temporary power
supplying circuit, so as to work effectively and ensure a stability of
data according to the third preferred embodiment and the fourth preferred
embodiment of the present invention. Large-capacity capacitors or cells
are preferred.

[0073] Based on the above principles of adjusting the brightness of the
light source, colors of the light source can also be adjustable, just by
replacing the firmware program with the colors varying according to a
desire order. One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment
of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is
exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

[0074] It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have
been fully and effectively accomplished. Its embodiments have been shown
and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and
structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change
without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention
includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the
following claims.

Patent applications by Lin Feng, Shenzhen CN

Patent applications in class CURRENT AND/OR VOLTAGE REGULATION

Patent applications in all subclasses CURRENT AND/OR VOLTAGE REGULATION